By Scott A. Kolb

Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN 

GRAND MEADOW -- The sixth try was the charm for Grand Meadow.

After a decade's worth of frustration, the Superlarks finally broke through and claimed the Section One, Nine-man championship.

This was the sixth trip to the section championship game in the decade for the Superlarks, and this time they hoisted the trophy. Grand Meadow took control late in the first half and beat Houston 35-7 to win the section title.

The Houston Hurricanes were the defending state champs and the two-time defending section champs. It was a close 14-7 score at halftime, then the Superlarks dominated in the second half.

Michael Gehling led the way with three rushing touchdowns and a touchdown reception. Caleb Leichtnam scored the final touchdown as Grand Meadow won its first section title since 1997.

"It's been a long time between section championships and this is a great group of kids to get it done," Grand Meadow coach Gary Sloan said. "We have good speed on the outside and our guys made some big plays. That was a big drive near the end of the first half to score the go-ahead touchdown."

The two teams traded touchdowns early in the first half. Tye Carrier caught a touchdown pass from Dustin Uhlendorf and Houston held a one-point lead midway through the second quarter.

The Superlarks came back with a drive, but it died on downs at the Hurricanes 13-yard line. With under four minutes to play in the half, the Grand Meadow defense made a stand. They held and forced a punt into the wind. The result of the exchange was only 33 yards to paydirt for the Superlarks.

It took just a couple of plays for the tide of momentum to turn. Gehling came open on a crossing route and caught a strike in stride from Leichtnam. Then, he turned it upfield and headed for the end zone on a 28-yard touchdown reception. Leichtnam ran in the two-point conversion and the Superlarks were ahead to stay.

"We went to the no-huddle in the second quarter and caught them off guard," Leichtnam said. "Gehling was open on the crossing pattern and I just laid the pass out there for him. The line gave me time to throw and he was wide open for the touchdown."

Events on the field had turned against the defending state champs and they couldn't get their offense going in the second half. Initially, neither team could move the ball in the third quarter. The Hurricanes then moved past midfield on a couple of pass plays, but they lost a fumble.

Sensing a chance to put the game away, the Superlarks took over in Hurricanes territory. They ran the ball right down the field in six plays. Gehling capped it off with a 13-yard touchdown run and Leichtnam added the conversion. The reign of the champs was about over.

"When we executed, the offense was there and we stayed in the game, but unfortunately we missed a few plays along the way," first-year Houston coach Ryan Gatzlaff said. "Giving up a late touchdown near the end of the first half hurt us psychologically. Grand Meadow just played tough defense and we couldn't make the plays in the second half. Still, it was awesome for the guys to get back this far in the playoffs for the third straight year."

Grand Meadow (10-1) plays Section Two champion Nicollet in the state quarterfinals next Saturday afternoon at the Rochester Regional Sports Stadium.

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